Why are we seeing more leaders talking about burnout? Burnout is affecting more leaders than ever before. Leaders in the last 5 years have had to adapt fast. They have had to make an increasing number of decisions and make them at all hours of the day.
Increased workload
Many leaders are facing increasing demands and responsibilities in today’s fast-paced business environment. In the last couple of years, there have been big seismic shifts happening which we need to adapt to and adapt to fast. As I reflected here is a short list of influences that are making long-term strategic planning a thing of the past.
COVID and having to make and understand changing health policies about what is appropriate and what is not and under what circumstances. With changing legislation about this issue.
Flexible / Hybrid working whether we like it or not it’s here and we need to adapt how to run organisations differently.
Cybersecurity we now also need to understand the threats to our organisations from unseen and unknown people that are moving at a pace that no leader could have understood 5-10 years ago.
AI is yet another disruption to the way in which we work. No idea what this means or how to adapt
Staff shortages across so many sectors are impacting what we can do and how we do it.
Staff expectations of the employee and employer relationship have changed. The expectation is that staff can bring their whole self to the workplace and be accommodated and more importantly embraced.
With technology allowing us to be available 24/7, it can be very difficult to disconnect from work and take time for rest and rejuvenation. It’s also increasingly difficult to carve out the necessary time for deep thinking with the constant availability.
Pressure to perform
Leaders are often under pressure to meet high expectations and deliver results quickly. This can create a culture of “always on” and lead to burnout if leaders don’t take time to recharge.
Lack of support
Leaders may not have the necessary support or resources to manage their workload effectively. This can include a lack of support staff, inadequate training, or insufficient resources to complete tasks. Keeping pace with IT changes and HR requirements alone requires leaders to think differently.
Personal factors
Leaders may also experience burnout due to personal factors such as relationship problems, financial stress, or health issues.
What can you do?
It’s important to note that burnout is not a sign of weakness or failure. It is a very real and common issue that affects many leaders, and it can have serious consequences on both their personal and professional lives. By recognizing the signs of burnout and taking steps to prevent it, leaders can maintain their well-being and effectiveness over the long-term.
You need to look after yourself first!
Prioritise self-care
As a leader, it’s easy to get caught up in work and neglect your own needs. However, it’s important to prioritise self-care to avoid burnout. Make time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation, such as exercise, reading, or spending time with loved ones.
Delegate tasks
You don’t have to do everything yourself! Delegating tasks to others can help lighten your workload and free up time for other important things in your life. Make sure you trust your team and communicate clearly to ensure that tasks are completed to your satisfaction.
Set boundaries
It’s important to set boundaries to prevent burnout. This includes setting limits on your work hours, prioritizing your own needs, and learning to say “no” when necessary.
Get support
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or professional counselor about your struggles with burnout. You don’t have to go through it alone.
Reflect on your values
Burnout can be a sign that you are not aligned with your values or goals. Take some time to reflect on what is most important to you and make adjustments in your life as needed to ensure that you are living in alignment with your values.
Remember, as a leader, taking care of yourself is not only important for your own well-being, but also for the well-being of those around you. By prioritising self-care and setting boundaries, you can prevent burnout and be a more effective leader in the long run.
There are so many leadership lessons in the Wizard of Oz. I thought I would share some. Recently I went to an end of the year competition with my riding club and one of the events is the fancy dress competition. I went with a Wizard of Oz theme. It is usually heavily contested and this year I went dressed as Dorothy and my horse was the Cowardly Lion. Which is why I began thinking about the deep morals and life lessons in the story.
Vision
Every good leader needs a vision and a plan. Simply put: a strategy. The Yellow Brick Road is an easy to follow strategy so regardless of who your team is they can step on the path with you and know where you are going.
“It’s always best to start at the beginning. And all you do is follow the Yellow Brick Road.”
– Glinda the Good Witch of Oz
Courage
Courage requires those in a leadership role to step up when it seems too hard for others. As leaders, most things that make it to your desk are too complex for others or have no clear answer. Making brave decisions requires courage. Courage is also required when you are the one that needs to bring conviction and enthusiasm when you are having a bad day.
“Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What have they got that I ain’t got? ” – Cowardly Lion
Courage doesn’t mean being frightened. Courage is about being scared and showing up anyway.
Dorothy: Weren’t you frightened?
Wizard of Oz: Frightened? Child, you’re talking to a man who’s laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe… I was petrified.
Relationships Matter
When we are managing staff or trying to influence others, they will not seek out your advice because of how much you know, but, because of how much you care. Show people you are genuinely interested in them and their success and they will show respect. Relationships with those around you matter.
“A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Experience
Experience counts. Wisdom often comes from our greatest mistakes not from our greatest successes. So don’t discount those around you who have failed. They are often the greatest teachers. Wisdom and experience can be your own, but in leadership, hire people smarter than you and be brave enough to say “I don’t know”.
“A baby has brains, but it doesn’t know much. Experience is the only thing that brings knowledge, and the longer you are on earth the more experience you are sure to get.” – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Uncertainty and Change
The tornado could represent several major disruptions. It is the winds of change and things happen outside of our control. 2020 has been a perfect illustration of chaos and significant upheaval. How many of us have felt that discomfort, had to pivot, and had to find new ways to operate outside our comfort zone. We need to learn to embrace change, challenges and uncertainty. They will be there regardless and we need to view them as opportunities.
“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” – Dorothy.
Communication
Clear communication is critical because if we explain our vision in a way that others can engage with we have no one on our path. Communication is critical but it also requires active listening. To persuade others, you need to hear them first.
Dorothy: How can you talk, if you haven’t got a brain?
The Scarecrow: I don’t know. But, some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don’t they?
Heart Led
The Tin Man shows us how to have a heart and have compassion. Leaders need to have a heart and be emotionally engaged with their staff, customers and their organisation. If you can learn to express how you feel authentically, it shows you care. It will attract and motivate others who want to work for you and want to care too. No one wants to work for a cold heartless boss.
“I shall take the heart. For brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world”. – Tin Man
“You people with hearts, have something to guide you, and need never do wrong; but I have no heart, and so I must be very careful”. – Tin Man
We are in this together
Team Diversity
A lion, a tin man, a scarecrow and a dog? All had their strengths and weakness. It is valuing all team members for what they can offer at different times.
“It’s not where you go, its who you meet along the way” – Wizard of Oz
Power and Leadership
There is a difference between power and leadership. We have all come across people in power who do not have leadership skills. Where those skills lack they often resort to power to get others to do what they want. When you pull back the curtain on them they are scared and confused.
“I am Oz, the Great and Terrible,” said the little man, in a trembling voice, “but don’t strike me—please don’t!—and I’ll do anything you want me to.” – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Self Care
As leaders, we need to value ourselves in the journey and take time to look after our selves as well. Often we have the answers but get burned out and exhausted. Value yourself and your experience and you will find your own ruby slippers to guide you home.
“You’ve always had the power, my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.” – Glinda the Good Witch
“There is no place like home”
You as a leader also need to do what makes you happy and feeds your soul. Sometimes that is right in front of you and don’t forget to value your family and your personal time and space.
“If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it, to begin with! Is that right? – Dorothy.
There are so many life and leadership lessons in the Wizard of Oz. I found so many that I found it hard to narrow it to 10. The one lesson I have learned in 2020 is self-care. I need to remind myself, “There is no place like home” and the ruby red shoes will always have pride of place on my feet.
